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The Best Tube Amplifiers vs Spectron ?

Before I bought Spectron stereo amp for my Watt/Puppy 8 I used McIntosh 2202, excellent tube amp and one of the best I ever owned. However, Spectron was better or even much better in all respects, most interesting - harmonic richness of midrange closely approximated the real music. The key is that this amp need very long time to fully break-in.

Today, I have read the latest Spectron's review (see http://spectronaudio.com/reviews.htm) where reviewer preferred Spectrons over state-of-the-art $50k VTL Siegfrieds!!! Amazingly, he wrote "The Musician III Mk II monoblocks have a crystalline purity in the reproduction of every voice and instrument that sounds more to me like the essence of live, unamplified music -- which I attend, on average, more than once a week year-round -- than any other amplifiers -- at any cost, based on any technology-- that I have ever heard."

I must agree with him (plus with Spectron you have no output tube maintenance, no heat, no huge weight) and I wonder if others have similar experience.

Mike.
michael_moskowich
teajay
1,333 posts
 
Hi Michael, not trying to rain on your parade regarding looking for others who believe that the Spectron amps are the "BEST" in the world, however their is no "BEST" of anything in the crazy world of high end audio. You always have to take in consideration system synergy and personnal taste with any specific piece of gear.

I have heard the Spectrons in many different systems, including the author of the review system you mentioned in your post, and have found them quite good, but not head and shoulders above some of the other great SS and tube amps I have listened to. I still have not heard a D amp that impressed me to the point I would be highly motivated to replace my class A SS monoblock amps in my system.
dob
577 posts
 
Hi Mike,

I also compared Siegfried against Musician III SE and I posted the details ( http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1180897750&read&keyw&zzspectron ). In brief, from my prospective of cello player, Spectron was more accurate in reproduction of the cello I used to hear all my life.

Teajay, I agree with you that we "...have to take in consideration system synergy and personnal taste.."

Regarding sysem synergy I feel that when we acquire better component it opens previously covered deficiencies and requires further investment.

Regarding the personal taste - many people like overly rich sound like found in many tube gear e.g. older CJ stuff. There is nothing wrong here, absolutely! One likes that one likes! Therefore people must know what they are buying. If I want most realistic acoustic music representation as I hear alive then with my budget, Spectron is the "BEST". If I love "heavenly violin bloom - better then Stradivarius" I will have to choose something else (e.g. TYPICAL single ended triode amp) and its my right too !!!!

All The Best
Rafael
ajackson1
156 posts
 
Teejay though I with you, I am withholding my comments for fear of the "Spectron Guards".
bryceeboy
115 posts
 
F- the Spectron guards. It is what it is. The Spectrons are amazing amplifiers and do some things amazingly well. In the end I preferred the BAT 600 Monos. To me and my ears the Spectrons had a very slight "digital" sound to everything. The BATs were more like a tube amp if you will. Images were better fleshed out and everything sounded more palatable. I also preferred the soundstage of the BATs. It gave me a nice layering and depth that wasn't there with the Spectron. I think the Spectrons are fun and eye opening at first but for me over the long haul I would prefer something different. Yes I am one of the old tube guys that were talked about earlier. I can see what musicians would like about the Spectrons as they are very accurate. To each his own. Enjoy!
dob
577 posts
 
Hello Bruceeboy.

There is no need to F- anyone, please. I am interested in your comparison beween Spectrons and BAT 600SE monos. Incidently, I know recording engineer in L.A. who compared both and preferred Spectron, may be again, as you said, he preferred that musician preferred. At any rate , when you said that Spectron has very slight "digital" sound I wonder if you have auditioned them with V-cap [oil/teflon] cap upgrade? BAT600 has similar optional upgarde of oil caps in the power supply for $3k and in monos its $6k. Spectron has its upgrade for $3k for its monos - so may be they should add more oil capacitors...

I am sure we(Spectron owners) will learn something interesting from your reply.

Thank you in advance.

Rafael
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